2,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridine: A convenient synthesis and complexation behaviour

The reaction between sodium diphenylphosphide and 2,6-difluoropyridine in liquid ammonia gives the title compound in 40% yield. The reactions of this potentially polydentate ligand with simple substrates like MeI, chalcogen and M(CO)6 proceed via attack on phosphorus in preference to nitrogen, and the 31P NMR and vibrational spectra of some of the products are reported.